Tara Choat joins other members of the Huntington Beach High School Pageantry Corps as she twirls double flags during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Aunt Gertie (Karen Hadley) waves to the crowd before the start of the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Assemblyman Matthew Harper waves to the crowed during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

California state senator Janet Nguyen waves to parade-goers during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

El Bekal Shriners drive their Tin Lizzies in circles at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Zane Hawkins, 6, peers out of a window as he rides with veterans from the Long Beach VA during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

WWII veteran, U.S. Army Pvt. 1st Class Robert St. Paul, waves to parade-goers during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Brothers of Blues roll up Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kitty the dog watches the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Roni Ball munches on watermelon as she watches the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Orange County Sons of the American Revolution during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sidney Walton, 98, a corporal in the U.S. Army during WWII, gets high-fives from parade goers during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The New Orleans Jazz Band, lead by dancers, make their way up Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Assemblyman Travis Allen gives the thumbs up as people cheer for him during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The start of the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Pacific Coast Highway on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sirprize, an Arabian horse from Mane Attraction, gets his hooves ready for the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The start of the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Pacific Coast Highway on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Performers on the Identifibo.com float re-enacting the parade scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day with a Hulk Hogan actor during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A giant C-17 balloon makes its way up Main Street as Boeing employees hold its strings during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hey woman cheers as she pokes her head out of a Volkswagen bus driven by the Huntington Beach sister cities association during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher acknowledges the crowd during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher makes his way up Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz waves a flag as he rides in the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of the Great War Historical Society march during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Parade participants from the International Surfing Museum poke out of a Volkswagen bus as they ride up Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

ABC7 meteorologist Dallas Raines waces to people calling his name during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The California State Military Reserve during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Huntington Beach Union High School District band and tall flags serves as the Host Band of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts make their way past the crowd on Main Street as they carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Performers on the Identifibo.com float re-enacting the parade scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Performers on the Identifibo.com float re-enacting the parade scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Veterans from the Long Beach VA wave to parade-goers during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A giant C-17 balloon makes its way up Main Street as Boeing employees hold its strings during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Annette Briers joins thousands of people lining Main Street as they watch the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A performer from The New Orleans Jazz Band dances with parade-goer Moo Bin Lee during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ryan Hellman, left, and Sam McLane, both 6, watch the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Boy Scouts carry Huntington Beach’s Historic “Freedom Flag” as the start of the 113th annual 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Zane Hawkins, 6, peers out of a window as he rides with veterans from the Long Beach VA during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Alianna Valdez spins around a bar aboard the SCATS Gymnastics float as it moves up Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

El Bekal Shriners drive their Tin Lizzies in circles at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street during the 113th annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

On the corner of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, Ken Nelson sat in a wheelchair yelling and cheering as marching bands, floats and members of the military passed by.

The 52-year-old Nelson reveled in watching the annual Fourth of July parade in Surf City. It’s a tradition that runs deep in his blood.

“My grandfather used to take my father, and my father took me as a kid and now, I’m here with my family and friends,” said Nelson, a long-time Huntington Beach resident. “This has been a family tradition since I can remember.”

Billed as the oldest and largest Fourth of July parade west of the Mississippi, more than half a million people gathered on a cool, windy but sunny day for the 113th Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade, according to Stacey Hoffer, director of the Huntington Beach 4th of July event organization.

The beachside parade is one of many gatherings across Orange County celebrating America’s Independence Day. From Brea, Lake Forest, Irvine, Mission Viejo to Dana Point, people came out donning the red, white and blue to observe the holiday.

In Huntington Beach, Navy fighter jets flew overhead, high school bands played “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” young girls twirled batons, while behind them Cub and Boy Scouts, World War II veterans, and beauty queens waved on top of slow-moving cars and floats during a 2.3-mile trek up Main Street from Pacific Coast Highway to Yorktown Avenue.

The parade, which first began in 1904, is one of the highlights of three days of festivities that included live music, a 5K run, and fireworks shooting off the pier. Organizers said it cost $450,000.

“The theme this year is ‘United We Stand,’” said Hoffer. “With everything going on, I think the theme is appropriate and shows how important it is to come together as one.”